SPORTS DIGEST | YSU announces Youth Football Day

YSU announces Youth Football Day

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State University Athletic Department partnered with Mr. Rooter to present the Second Annual Youth Football Day at Stambaugh Stadium on Oct. 28, when the Penguins play Illinois State.

Mr. Rooter, a YSU Corporate Partner, will underwrite reserved game tickets for area midget and youth football teams up to 8th grade. Last fall more than 1,200 youth football players, cheerleaders and coaches were able to attend a YSU game. Youth coaches can call the ticket office at 330-941-7229 for more info.

The game also marks the annual Homecoming contest. The Homecoming Parade will take place at noon on Fifth Avenue, while the King & Queen will be crowned at halftime. Gates will open at 12:30 p.m.

Zallow selected to run in Millrose Games

NEW YORK

Youngstown State junior track and field standout Chad Zallow has been selected to compete in the NYRR Millrose Games in February. Zallow will run in the 60m hurdles at the event.

Zallow’s race will be held at 4 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the Armory’s New Balance Track and Field Center in New York City.

Zallow is coming off a stellar sophomore campaign where he was a first-team Indoor NCAA All-American and second-team Outdoor NCAA All-American in 2017. He was third at the NCAA Indoor Championships and ninth at the outdoor meet.

Sled dogs caught doping in Iditarod

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

For the first time in the history of the world’s most famous sled dog race, several of the high-performance animals have tested positive for a prohibited drug. But race officials have refused to name the musher involved.

The governing board of the nearly 1,000-mile race said in a statement that several dogs tested positive for the opioid pain reliever Tramadol. Officials said the team was tested six hours after finishing the nearly 1,000-mile race in Nome in March.

Officials say they likely could not prove legally prove intent on the affected musher’s part. Officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment and to say whether the musher faces discipline.

Iditarod board member and musher Aaron Burmeister says he doesn’t know the musher’s identity, but he adds that only the first 20 teams to reach Nome are tested.

Ex-England coach racially abused players

LONDON

Former England women’s team coach Mark Sampson racially abused two of his players, according to a Football Association investigation.

Sampson was cleared of discrimination by earlier FA investigations but was fired last month because of an unrelated case of inappropriate conduct toward players in a previous job. The new look at Sampson’s conduct toward England internationals Eni Aluko and Drew Spence by a barrister was prompted by fresh evidence.

One racially discriminatory comment by Sampson in 2014 toward Aluko requested her family members from Nigeria didn’t come to a game because of Ebola.

NCAA says teams abuse relief efforts

The NCAA says at least two dozen Division I basketball programs are taking advantage of a waiver that allows teams to play an extra exhibition game if the proceeds go to disaster relief.

NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn told The Associated Press via email that the governing body is aware of 24 programs that have elected to take part in one of the games. Many of the games are benefiting people affected by recent hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria, while at least one is helping people affected by the California wildfires and the Las Vegas mass shooting.

Osburn said she expects about 15 more games to be scheduled in the coming weeks. She says the NCAA approves the games on a case-by-case basis.

Staff/wire report